Turn-table



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

T. L. JOHNSON.

TURN TABLE.

Patented May 6, 1890;

lllllllllllllllllll" m: NORRIS vgnns co., PNOTO-LITHO., vusxmuran, n. c.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet; 2.

T. L. JOHNSON. TURN TABLE.

Patented May 6, 1890.

VIII/V Fig. 6.

. NITED STATES? ATENT "FFIcE.

TOM L..JOHNSON, or CLEVELAND, orno.

TU RN-TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 427,328, dated lliay 6,1890.

Application filed March 8, 1888. Serial No. 266,539. (No model.)

To (tZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, TOM L. JOHNSON, of Cleveland, in the county ofCuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Turn-Tables, which in- First. To improve the form of the catch whererails are used. \Vhere no rails are used of course no catch isnecessary.

Second. In turn-tables of this description, where it is necessary tomaintain the surface of the table level with the surrounding roadbed,notwithstanding the wear of the balls on which the table revolves andthe settling of the whole foundation, it is desirable to have some meansof adjusting the height of the table while the same is in place.

Third. It is also very desirable to be able to clean out the dirt orother refuse of the street, which works in around the edge of the table,without removing the top of the same.

Fourth. It is of great advantage to form the under side of its top insuch a way that the water running into the table will not reach thewheels or balls on which the table revolves.

These objects and advantages are secured in the manner hereinafterdescribed in detail, and particularly set forth in the claims.

turn-table; and Figs. 5 and 6 are cross-sections taken at the lines (Z dand e c, respectively, of Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a cross-section taken at theline y y-oif Fig. 3.

In said figures the several parts are indicated by the letters ofreference below used.

First. The locking-catch ordinarily used is constructed on the outsideof turn-tables, forming an obstacle to the travel of vehicles over thesame and subject, by reason of its exposed position, to be clogged andfrozen up in cold weather. The locking-catch or stopping device used inmy invention corrects this defect, and is described as follows: In Fig.4, which represents a partial plan on a larger scale, two bolts ff passthrough holes h h in that part of the table shown at E, Fig.

1, and through eyes in the hinged latch G, which oscillates on the bolt9. hen the table is to be turned, said bolts are drawn upward enough topermit their points toclear the slot H. The table is then revolvedin'the direction indicated by arrows until the bolts are clear of theslot, when they are dropped and allowed by the further revolution of thetable to slide up the inclined guides of D, assisted by the latch G,which, being free to move radially on its bolt g, moves upward when thepressure against'the incline forces the lower end of the bolts againstit. The bolts then drop into the slot 11, arresting the further turningof the table at the exact point of connection with the track-rail. Itwill be seen that the heads of these bolts rest even or flush with thesurface of the table and do not offer any obstacle to the travel ofhorses or vehicles over the same; also, that all the rest of the stop orcatch device, being under the top of the table and attached to the mainframe in the interior, is protected thereby from the weather and fromthe debris of the street as well as from accidental damage. To stop therevolving of the table at any given point, two or more bolts such as fmay be placed on a line radially and at different distances from thecenter of the table, and stopping in slots H, similarly placed, may beso arranged that each bolt shall drop only in the slot set in thecircular path in which it travels around the center. The heads of thebolts f, being T-shaped and working in slots in the table top, may beall drawn up and held out of engagement, as shown in Fig. 5, except theparticular bolt intended to stop the table at the point desired.

Second. The Wheels or balls I) are subject to wear, as well as thetracks on which they revolve. The main frame is also liable to settle.This constantly operates to lower the surface of the table, and to raiseit to its proper level is in other forms of tables only accomplished byvery cumbersome means of awkward accessibility; but by my invention theupper rack R is detached from the frame of the table, and is providedwith one or more inclined surfaces on the lower side, sliding on asimilar inclined surface or surfaces cast rigidly to the main frame, thetwo forming a double rack, the upper one of which, when rotated by anyconvenient means, raises or lowers the top of the table, as the case maybe, securing the rack in its new position to maintain said top at thedesired elevation. Said rack can be rotated by wedges applied atdiiferent parts thereof, or by an adjusting screw or screws. One of thesimplest Ways of accomplishing this adjustment is shown in Figs. 3 and7, which is operated as follows: The ends of the bolt P are threaded toreceive the nuts N and project through holes of convenient size in thelugs M M, which lugs are castsolid on a main frame or curb C. The bolt Pis also provided with collars p 13, between which the lug Z of thecircular rack R is confined. To raise the rack R, and with it the top ofthe table A, it is only necessary to turn it in the proper direction byscrewing up against the lugs M with the nuts N N, the rotation of themovable rack R against the stationary rack r, Fig. 2, raising the tableto the desired height. The rack R is held in place by the supports orlugs L, cast solid to the bottom of the main frame on each side of therack, which is allowed to move freely between them. It is obvious thatthe lower rack 1" might be made a movable rack and the upper rack R astationary rack without departing from the principle of the device oraccom- .and the outside curb of the table.

plishing a difierent result. The entire center of the top is formed by aloose plate or cover B, which, when removed, gives room for removingrefuse or dirt from under its central part without lifting the mainbody, of the table. The entire top may also be removed, if necessary,without disturbing the other parts of the table.

Third. The principal part of the refuse of the street accumulatesbetween the lower rack To facilitate the cleaning of this a smallopening 0 provided with a cover is placed in the top near itscircumference, so that by rotating the table access is given to theentire annular space in which such refuse accumulates, and

also in which to work the adjusting mechanism.

Fourth. The construction here shown prevents water from getting to theballs by providing a circular dripping-strip S S, Fig. 2, cast on theunder side of the body of the top on the outer side of the balls, whichstrip prevents the water from running any farther in toward the centerthan the strip itself. A similar dripping-strip s s is also cast on theinside to prevent water getting in and around the cover B from reachingthe balls. In my invention hollow balls are preferably used, made in anyconvenient manner. Balls of light weight and large diameter can thus beutilized, thereby lessening the expense and decreasing both the wear andthe friction and making the tables revolve more easily.

Having thus fully described my said improvements, as of my invention Iclaim A turn-table provided with an adjustable circular rack, by whoseadjustability or set said table is raised or lowered, substantially asdescribed, for the purposes set forth.

TOM L. JOHNSON. itnesses:

HENRY F. SMITH, J ENNIE TURNER.

